Key case



C. H. HOWE May' 15, 1934. I

Filed Nov. 17, 1930 M l A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 15, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 0 KEY CASE Carleton H. Howe,Worcester, Mass., assignor to Buxton, Incorporated, Springfield, Mass.,a. corporation of Massachusetts Application November 17, 1930, SerialNo. 496,197 9 Claims. (01. 150-40) This invention relates toimprovements in key cases and, more particularly, to the means forsecuring the key holding hooks in the case.

The invention is an improvement on that disclosed in U. S. LettersPatent No. 1,691,637,

granted November 13, 1928 to Warner R. Buxton. That invention, like thepresent one, is directed to the provision of a support for the keyholders, which support is so constructed that the key holders can bereadily assembled in the support, after the latter is completely formed,and removed from the support, if and when desired, with equal facilityand yet be securely locked therein during normal use. The key holdersupport of said patent comprises two slidably engaged parts, which arerelatively movable from a position wherein the key holders are locked inthe support, to another position wherein the key holders may be removedfrom or inserted in the support. Bodily movement of the entire body ofthe key holders, with the keys held by them, is necessary as an incidentto the relative shifting of the two parts of the support between theaforesaid positions.

The present invention is directed to and has for an object, theprovision of a distinctly better construction for accomplishing the aimsand purposes of the former invention in a different and better way.

Among other things, the locking and unlocking of the key holders can beeffected without requiring bodily shifting of the key holders and theload of keys thereon. The result is efiected without any relativeshifting of the parts, which compose the tubular support f r the keyholders, by a separate locking member longitudinally slidable in thesupport. This member plays no part in supporting the key holders nor isit necessarily engaged by them in any of their normal movements.

The invention also has for an object the provision of a key holdersupport of the tubular type and a locking means for the key holders,which is so constructed and arranged as to fit inside, the tubularsupport without necessitating any material increase in size of thesupport. The same general sort of tubular support, having substantiallythe same and desirable small diameter as heretofore used in key cases,not having the provisions for easy insertion or removal of the keys, canbe used and the locking member applied there o wthout noticeableincrease in bulk.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction for thepurpose, which is better adaptable to manufacture and can be made bysimpler methods and at less cost.

Other objects will appear as the detailed description proceeds and willbe'pointed out inthe appended claims.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompany ngdrawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a key case embodying theinvention,-the case being shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, taken similarly to Fig. 1, but drawn to alarger scale to show the details of the key holder support;

Figs. 3 and 4 are top plan views of the key holder support, showing thesame in position for insertion or removal of the key holders and inposition for locking the key holders againstv removal, respectively;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of Fig. 2;

Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views taken on the lines 66 and 7-7respectively, of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are elevational and top plan views, respectively, of thelocking device.

Referring to this drawing; the body of the case is designated 10. Thecase may be of any desired a.

form as this invention is concerned only with the means for fasteningthe key holders in place therein. As shown, the case is of usual formcomprising a strip of leather or the like, affording a central section aand two flaps b, which may be folded over and upon the central sectionin overlapping relation to enclose the key holders and which may besecured together in such relation by interengageable snap fastenerelements c. The key holders are shown at.11 and may be of any suitableform. As shown, they are in the formof snap hooks, each having a shank12 and an enlarged and approximately ball-shaped head 13. One or more(four as shown) of these key holders-are mounted in the tubular part 14of a metal support suitably secured, as by rivets 15, to the body 10 ofthe key case. This tubular part has a substantially semi-cylindricalfront wall 16- and an integrally connected back wall 17 which may,although it need not, be a continuation in part of the cylindricalsurface and which extends beyond the tubular portion to form a platelike part 18. As shown and preferred, although not necessarily essentialfor all purposes, the lower end of the front wall 16 has an integralplate-like extension 19, overlying the part 18 and secured thereto andto the key case body by the rivets 15' or any other suitable means. Thesemi-cylin-, drical front wall has a series of transverse slots 20, onefor each key holder, and each slot is. of a width such as to freelyreceive the shank 12 of its key holder and yet prevent passage of thehead 13 therethrough. The key holders are free to swing about the axisof portion 14 from the normal pendant position shown in Fig. 6 upwardlythrough an angle of approximately 180 degrees. Each key holder ispreferably also free to turn about the axis of its shank 12 with aswivel action, the head 13 and tubular part 14 forming the equivalent ofa ball and socket joint. While the swivel action is desirable, importantand preferred, it is not indispensable and the advantages of thisinvention may be secured, at least in part, if the key holders simplyswing and are restrained from swivelling movement.

Thus. far, the key case structure is of usual form, except for theplate-like extension 19, the purpose of which will later appear. Inaccordance with this invention, I provide at one point in each slot 20,preferably at the upper end thereof, an enlargement 21 which is of suchsize and shape as to permit the head 13 of the key holder to passtherethrough. The. support, comprising the tubular portion 14, may becompletely formed prior to insertion of the key holders',the latterbeing later assembled therein by passing their heads through theenlargements 21.

The problem of the invention is to provide a satisfactory means forlocking the heads 13 of the key holders in place in the tubular member14. For this purpose, I provide the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Thisdevice consists of a platelike slide piece 22 which is received betweenthe plate-like extensions 18 and 19 in a manner such as to permit alimited degree of longitudinal sliding movement (in a direction parallelto the axis of member 14). The upper part of the extension 19 is offsetaway from extension 18, as at 19' to form a receiving recess for theslide 22. This ofiset forms a shoulder 23, acting as a lower guide forthe slide. The slide extends upwardly into the tubular member, followingalong the inner surface of the back wall 17 thereof. Its upper end isrounded to conform with the curvature of the upper part of back wall 17and is slidably engaged therewith. It will be seen that the slide isheld against vertical movement or any other movement except in alongitudinal direction. The

slide 22 is provided at its upper end with a series of projections 24,one for each key holder 11, and these projections, as 'will be clearfrom Fig. 4, normally cover the enlargements 21 to an extent sufficientto prevent passage of the heads 13 of the key holders therethrough.Intermediate these projections 24, the upper edge of the slide isrecessed, as at 25, or in any other suitable way, so that when the slideis shifted far enough to carry the projections 24 out of registrationwith the enlargements, the latter will be unobstructed, as clearly'shownin Fig. 3. The heads 13 of the key holders may then be removed orinserted in the tubular member.

For limiting the movement of the slide 22, I provide lugs 26 and 27struck up forwardly, one from each end thereof. The lug 27 serves as aconvenient finger piece for moving the slide. The part 19' is recessedat 28 to permit the lug 27 to enter it just far enough so that therecesses 25 in the slide 22 will register perfectly with theenlargements 21 asshown in Fig. 3. The lug 26' limits the movement ofthe slide in the opposite direction and defines'its correct position forlocking the key holders,-that is the position of Fig. 4 in which theprojections 24 are in covering relation with the enlargements.

tion. For example, the key holder support, as

shown, is substantially of the same general form,

style and appearance as the commercial structure now in wide use. Theaddition of the locking slide 22 has been effected without materiallyaltering the appearance of the support and without materially increasingthe diameter of the tubular portion thereof. Such portion is kept of thesame small diameter essential for a key case of the desired thin formwhich readily fits the pocket. In this connection, it is to be notedthat the support, as shown in Figs. 2 to 6, is drawn double size. Thisresult is effected by a locking device which follows along one wall onlyof the tubular support and preferably as shown along the back wall.There is usually room at such location in the old style key case for thereception of the slide 22 and no noticeable increase in diameter of thetubular portion 14 is necessary to make room in the old construction forthe additional element. Were the locking device to follow completelyaround the inner periphery of the portion 14, an increase in itsdiameter would be necessary. Here, the inside area of the tube 14 isrestricted, if at all, only by a single thickness of the metalcomprising the locking device and because of its construction it may bemade relatively thin and yet retain suflicient strength forits purpose.So also, by the described location of the slide 22, it is maintained outof the way of the heads of the key holders and does not interfere at allwith their normal movements and need not necessarily even be engagedthere by. Also, the construction of the device is so simple that it isreadily manufacturedby punch press methods.

The extension 19'19' from the lower end of the tubular portion 14 notonly affords a retaining means and guide for the slide 22 but alsoenables the walls of the slots 20 to be tied together at both ends. Thisis a feature of importance as minimizing the likelihood of such wallsthe walls of the slots 20 were tied together at one end only. Theaddition of the part 19-19 is therefore of distinct advantage apart fromits obvious purpose.

In the standard key case construction, it has been the practice toassemble the key holders in the support prior to the completion of itsformation. A plate having a series of parallel slots extending from oneedge inwardly is used for the support. The slotted part of this plate isrolled into roughly cylindrical form but, before being completely rolleddown, the key holders are inserted. The present construction enables thesupport to be completely formed prior to the insertion of the keyholders. Then, by pushing slid. 22 into the position shown in Fig. 3,the heads 13 of the key holders may be placed within the tube 14, afterwhich they are locked in place by the simple act of pushing the slide 22into the position shown in Fig. 4. This construc tion also results'in anadvantage to the user, enabling him to remove and replace key holderswhenever desired. Broken key holders may be removed and replaced quicklyand conveniently.

for another, to suit his own desires. He may remove key holders carryingkeys that are not immediately needed, replacing them later only whenthey are likely to be used. There is a demand in the trade for a keycase which will enable these results to be obtained.

The present locking means, operating by a longitudinal sliding movement,is effective for its purpose without causing movement of the key holdersand without bodily shifting them and the keys carried thereby. Thelocking slide is readily operated since it does not bear the load of thekey holders and keys. This also avoids the possibility present in theold construction, that movement of the parts might be interfered with Iand restrained by a key catching on some obstruction or by entanglementof the keys.

The invention has been disclosed herein in a preferred form forillustrative purposes but I desire to claim my invention in the broadestpossible legal manner.

What I claim is:

1.In a key case, a case forming member, a key holder support fixedthereto, said support, comprising, a tubular portion having asubstantially semi-cylindrical front wall and a back wall fixedlyconnected thereto, said front wall having a transverse slot therein withan enlargement at the upper end thereof, a key holder having a shank ofa size to move freely along said slot and a head of a size to passfreely through said enlargement but not through said slot, and a memberextending inside said tubular portion and entirely along the back wallthereof with a projection normally covering said enlargementsufficiently to prevent passage of said head therethrough, said memberbeing shiftable to withdraw said projection from covering relation withsaid enlargement.

2. A key holder support, comprising, a tubular portion having asubstantially semi-cylindrical front wall and a fixedly connected backwall substantially closing said portion and projecting therebeyond inplate-like form, said front wall having a transverse slot with anenlargement therein at the upper end thereof, a key holder the shank ofwhich is of a size to move freely in said slot and the head of which isof a size to pass freely through the enlargement but not through theslot, and a member slidably mounted and guided on the projecting part.of said back wall and extending into the tubular portion and entirelyalong the back wall thereof and having a projection to cover saidenlargement sufficiently so as to prevent passage of said headtherethrough, said member being shiftable to withdraw said projectionfrom covering relation with said enlargement and enable said head topass through the latter. 4

3. A key holder support, comprising, a strip of metal bent to form twoclosely spaced overlapping parts which afford between them a groove andalso bent to form a tubular portion which connects one edge of one ofsaid overlapping parts to the adjacent edge of the other, said portionhaving a transverse slot therein with an enlargement at one pointtherein, a key holder having a head turnably mounted within the tubularportion and of a size to pass freely through said enlargement but notthrough said slot and having also a shank extending out of said portionthrough said slot and freely movable therein, and a locking deviceslidably received in said groove and extending into said tubularportion, said device having a part ffective in one position of saiddevice to cover the enlargement sufficiently to prevent passage of thehead therethrough, said device being movable to another position tocarry said part out of covering relation with said enlargement.

4. A key holder support, comprising, tw'ofiat plate-like partsintegrally connected by a tubular portion which connects their adjacentedges, said parts adapted to be secured together in contiguous relationand one of them having a part ofiset away from the other to form agroove communicating with the interior of said tubular portion, saidportion having a transverse slot therein with an enlargement at onepoint therein, a key holder having a head turnably mounted within thetubular portion and of a size to pass freely through said enlargementbut not through said slot and having also a shankextending out of saidportion through said slot and freely movable therein, and a lockingdevice slidably received in said groove and extending into said tubularportion, said device having a part effective in one position of saiddevice to cover the enlargement sufficiently to prevent passage of thehead therethrough, said device being movable to another position tocarry said part out of covering relation with said enlargement.

5. In a key case, a case forming member, a plate-like member securedthereto and having an integral rolled-up portion for receiving the headof a keyholder and a transverse slot for receiving the shank of the keyholder, a key holder having a shank movable in said slot and an enlargedhead turnably mounted in said portion, said slot having an enlargementlocated in the upper wall of said portion and of a size to permit saidhead to passtherethrough, and a locking device slidably mounted on saidmember and extendingupwardly along the back side of said portion andterminating with a part for covering said enlargement sufliciently toprevent passage of the head therethrough, said device being shiftable tocarry said part out of covering relation with said enlargement.

'6. A key holder support, comprising, a member having a plate-likeportion adapted to be fixed in a key case andan integral rolleduptubular portion,,said tubular portion having a slot therein disposedtransversely to its axis with an enlargement in the slot located neartheupper part of the tubular portion, said tubular portion also having alongitudinal slot disposed parallel with the plate-like portion andadjacent thereto, a key holder having a shank movable in the transverseslot and an enlarged head turnably moun*- ed within the tubular portionand of a size to pass freely through said enlargement but not throughsaid transverse slot, and a locking device longitudinally slidablewithinsaid tubular portion and having a part for covering saidenlargement sufliciently to prevent passage of said head therethrough,said device being slidable to carry said part out of covering relationwith said enlargement and having a part' extending into saidlongitudinal slot for guiding the device in its sliding movements.

'7. A key case, comprising a case forming member, a hollow member fixedthereto and having fixedly and rigidly interconnected front and backwalls forming a tube substantially. completely and permanently closedexcept for its ends, said front wall of the tube having a substantiallytransverse slot therein with an enlargement at one'point therein, a keyholder having a. shank passing through and movable freely along saidsize to pass freely through saidenlargement but j bular portion,

not through said slot, and a locking device sep- 'arate from andindependent of said member and mounted thereon for straight line slidingmovement in the direction of the length of said tube, said' device inone position covering said enlargement sufliciently to prevent passageof said head therethrough and slidable into another position to uncoversaid enlargement and permit withdrawal of the head therethrough, wherebythe key holders may be released for withdrawal by shifting said separatelocking device and without moving either of said members or the keyholders or the keys carried thereby.

8. A key holder support, comprising, a member having a plate-likeportion adapted to be Afixed in a key case and an integral rolled-uptusaid tubular portion having a slot therein disposed transversely toits axis with an enlargement in the slot located near the upper part ofthe tubular portion, said tubular portion also having a longitudinalslot disposed parallel with the plate-like portion and adjacent thereto,a key holder having a shank movable in the transverse slot and anenlarged head turnably mounted within the tubular portion and of a sizeto pass freely through said enlargement but not through said transverseslot, and a locking device longitudinally slidable within said tubularportion and having a part for covering said enlargement sufliciently toprevent passage of said head therethrough, said device being slidable tocarry said part out of covering relation with said enlargement.

9. A key case, comprising a case forming member, a hollow member fixedthereto and having fixedly and rigidly interconnected front and backwalls forming a tube substantially completely and permanently closedexcept for its ends, said front wall of the tube having a substantiallytransverse slot therein with an enlargement at one point therein, a keyholder having a shank passing through and movable freely along said slotand a head located inside said tube and of a size to pass freely throughsaid enlargement but not through said slot, and a locking deviceseparate from and independent of said member and mounted inside saidtube and adjacent said back wall for straight line sliding movement inthe direction of the length of said tube, said device in one positioncovering said enlargement sufliciently to prevent passage of said headtherethrough and slidable into another position to uncover saidenlargement and permit withdrawal of the head therethrough, whereby thekey holders may be released for withdrawal by shifting said separatelocking device and without moving either of said members or the keyholders or the keys carried thereby.

CARLETON H. HOWE.

